Tonight is a night like many others. And yet it’s different.
So many things contribute to it being different — all showing up in the turbulence of Spring. The season of our livers cleansing. Cleansing out all the old and making way for the new. Toxins and emotions — especially those long held ones.
It’s been a turbulent time for me and I know it has for many of my clients. Sometimes, during these times, I forget that it’s only temporary, that it’s nature’s way of allowing a true rebirth. These are the times when my grounding routines really come through for me. So about two weeks ago Joel and I went to Miami Beach to see Kim Eng to experience Eckhart Tolle’s teachings combined with Kim’s movement: qi gong, t’ai chi and yin yoga. I had long wanted to try qi gong after reading Emily’s blog.
These beautiful, flowing practices are just what I love to get mind, body and spirit working together. To remind my heart that this physical experience we are in is meant to be one of joy…less striving, more joy.
Meeting Miss Blue
The best part about the weekend was less about the seminar and more about meeting the lovely Miss Blue.
I’ve always liked reading Miss Blue’s blog – smart, insightful, often bringing hope into what can be a difficult experience: trying to love ourselves despite having an eating disorder. Trying to recover. Often feeling alone.
There are two beautiful things that I’ve found from having been through an eating disorder.
- One is that it caused me to awaken to another side of me that I was afraid to experience. To disconnect from “surface” goals and dig deep into my heart for what I want, for how I want to be.
- The other…well, I’m just so amazed that an eating disorder can be the common thread among so many amazing women walking this earth. And that this one common thread has brought me to another person who is like a soul sister to me. That’s Miss Blue. I am just floored by the fact that I could never have met Miss Blue without this common thread. How wild is that?
How is it that Joel and Miss Blue’s hubbie got along like fast friends? That Joel and I both said we liked both of them equally — which doesn’t always happen in couples. Sometimes we like one better than the other…not so, what a cool couple these two are!
How is it that Miss Blue and I had endless things to talk about and underneath it all was this big, deep understanding?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about connecting with people.
Working at home in my rural area, I see more trees and mountains than people. And there’s something about connecting with people that is the lifeblood of our existence. Especially, when the people we connect with are supportive of where we are and where we’re going.
Joel and I were invited into Miss Blue’s home like old friends. What a beautiful place they have — with an incredible view high above the ocean. Two fun, sophisticated, friendly, down to earth people that a few keystrokes in the blogosphere connected to us.
Today, I sit back and marvel at what we do to ourselves. How we think we are less than we are.
After reading some of Miss Blue’s posts about not feeling “good enough” for her hubbie (like all of us have felt at times), here is this beautiful woman with the most incredible energy. She has a kind, gentle energy that is at once accepting and welcoming. She is buoyant, smart and charismatic.
She’s wonderful just in her BEING — there’s nothing she needs to do because who she is being is so amazing. It wasn’t that I was getting to know Miss Blue, because somehow, I already knew her. I already trusted her.
So tonight as I write, many things are different.
I have my second reason to be grateful that I had this eating disorder. And I realize it’s about connection. I’m sure we have soul sisters and I believe I just found one in Miss Blue. It inspired me to consider a dream I had put aside for awhile: to get women together for recovery retreats to celebrate connection, raise our emotional energy to a place of joy (or at least closer to joy) and to realize our greatness through being mirrors for one another.
Miss Blue, if you could see what I saw, you’d think the world of yourself! 
And perhaps, we inch closer to being able to love ourselves when we see how great these other women are. We’re not “less than.” We ARE good enough. We are perfect, whole and complete just as we are right now. Recovered or not. We are admired, adored, loved. We miss that when we judge ourselves.
As Spring makes way for rebirth, I am letting go of what is no longer needed. And celebrating my connection with self and my soul sisters. Such a beautiful journey, this life.
With love to all my soul sisters out there,
Heather
Heather, I literally had goose bumps as I read the last few lines of your post. I feel your love. I know you were thinking of me, too, when you wrote this, and I am so very touched.
I am so moved by your description of Miss Blue and the amazing time you had together. A part of me wanted to be envious for not being there with you, but another part of me knows that I was. And I am just so happy for the two of you (four of you)! Best of all, I know it won’t be long before I get to meet you both in person, and it makes me smile just to think of how truly wonderful that is going to be!
with love,
Emily
P.s.: I’m so glad you enjoyed the Qi Gong. I think I would really enjoy her style, too. Maybe there will be an opportunity in the future for me to attend one of her workshops.
Comment by Emily Jolie — May 11, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
Hi Emily, thank you so much for your comment. Yes, I was certainly thinking of you — the whole weekend in Miami and as I wrote.
And of course you were there with us…we talked about you, how beautiful your voice is. It’s only a matter of time before we meet face to face!
You know, regarding Qi Gong, I have a feeling your talent is going to surpass what I’ve done before, so I can’t wait to take YOUR workshop!
Love,
Heather
Comment by Heather — May 11, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
Ahh, Heather, you are so sweet and much too flattering!
I can’t wait to do some Qi Gong with you and share what I have learned!
much, much love,
Emily
Comment by Emily Jolie — May 12, 2007 @ 12:24 am